In spite of the plethora of 21st century distractions in the workplace, the biggest challenges to a worker's focus remain the procrastination strategies that have existed as long as the concept of work. 

According to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. employees by Bamboo HR, a maker of HR software, the most popular ways to avoid work are the following: 

• Taking breaks to the kitchen/water cooler/break room (other than for lunch)

• Taking trips to the bathroom

• Participating in small talk/gossip with coworkers

Using social media for non-work related reasons or watching TV (either on mobile devices or PCs) were the 7th and 8th most cited time-wasters. 

And in another finding that undermines widespread assumptions about American workplaces, the survey reports that those closer to the top of the corporate ladder were slightly more likely to engage in distractions from work than those they are supervising.